We are subject to the risk of cybersecurity incidents, failures and attacks that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our operations are supported by our information technology systems and therefore, cybersecurity plays a key role in protecting our operations. Cyber-threats and cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, coordinated and costly, and could be targeted at our operations or information systems. Accordingly, we have an information security policy, in order to help us prevent, detect and correct vulnerabilities. On November 10, 2019, we detected a ransomware cyber-attack that targeted certain computer software applications. Although the cyber-attack did not interrupt the operational continuity of our business, we implemented remedial measures in accordance with our protocols that were intended to contain the extent of the attack and preserve the integrity of our proprietary information. If the integrity of our information technology systems were to be compromised due to another cyber-attack, or, as the case may be, due to the negligence or misconduct of our employees, our business operations could be disrupted or even paralyzed and our proprietary information could be lost or stolen. If such events occur, we could face, among other things, regulatory action, legal liability, damage to our reputation, a significant reduction in revenues, an increase in costs, a shutdown of operations, or loss of our investments in areas affected by such cyber-attacks, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, results of operations and financial condition.
A continued decline in our proved hydrocarbon reserves and production could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
Some of our existing oil and gas producing fields are mature and, as a result, our reserves and production may decline as reserves are depleted. In years prior to 2019, the replacement rate for our proved hydrocarbon reserves was insufficient to prevent a decline in our proved reserves. However, during 2019, the trend of previous years was reversed. We achieved a reserve-replacement ratio, or RRR, of 120.1% and 119.7% for 2019 and 2020, respectively. In 2021, our total proved reserves had a small increase of 43 million barrels of crude oil equivalent, or 0.6%, after accounting for discoveries, extensions, revisions, and delimitations, from 7,383.9 million barrels of crude oil equivalent as of December 31, 2020 to 7,426.5 million barrels of crude oil equivalent as of December 31, 2021. See “Item 4—Information on the Company—Business Overview––Exploration and Production––Reserves” in the 2021 Form 20-F for more information about the factors leading to this increase. Based on these numbers, the RRR in 2021 was 105.1%, a decrease as compared to the RRR of 119.7% in 2020. Nevertheless, as a result of the CNH’s final resolution on April 20, 2021 to approve 2020 proved reserves, our proved reserves as of December 31, 2020 increased from 7,383.9 million barrels of crude oil equivalent to 7,436.5 million barrels of crude oil equivalent, due to the inclusion of final proved reserves from our Contratos de Exploración y Extracción (Exploration and Extraction Contracts, or “CEEs”). As a result, our RRR in 2021 was 98.8%, a decrease from our RRR of 119.7% in 2020. However, our crude oil production increased by 0.1% and 2.9% in 2020 and 2021, respectively, primarily as a result of the increase in production in our new offshore field projects Cheek, Itta, Koban, Mulach, Manik NW, Octli, Pokche, Tlacame, Tlamatini, Tetl, Xolotl and Yaxche, and onshore field projects Tupilco Profundo, Quesqui, Cibix and Ixachi. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to continue to increase, or otherwise stop or reverse the trend of decline in, our proved reserves and production, which at any time could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Developments in the oil and gas industry and other factors may result in substantial write-downs of the carrying amount of certain of our assets, which could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
We evaluate on an annual basis, or more frequently where the circumstances require, the carrying amount of our assets for possible impairment. Our impairment tests are performed by a comparison of the carrying amount of an individual asset or a cash-generating unit with its recoverable amount. Whenever the recoverable amount of an individual asset or cash-generating unit is less than its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized to reduce the carrying amount to the recoverable amount.
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